Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had an unusual form of praise for New York’s junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, this morning at the fundraiser Mayor Bloomberg hosted for him at his townhouse – referring to her as “the hottest member” as she sat just a few feet away, according to three sources. The comment prompted Gillibrand to turn red, according to the sources, and created a bit of stir among the small crowd there. “It was pretty shocking when he said it,” said one source familiar with the remark and the reaction.

Shocking? From the guy who in the last year has insulted blacks, Latinos, and in just the last week, DemocRAT Senate nominee Chris Coons (Bearded Marxist - Dullaware)? Sounds like standard operating procedure from Rory Reid's father, who is locked in an intense battle for another term vs tea party favorite Sharon Angle..

Anonymous, unnamed sources were able to get Ms. Gillibrand to explain what may be the background behind the comments by Godfather Reid. Said the first-term Senator (affectionately known as "Bimbette"), who would only comment publicly if she were granted anonymity ("OK, but only if you use just my first name, but not my last name or where I'm from."):

"We'll, you see, Harry is a very sweet man who sees himself as Hugh Hefner, smoking jacket and all. He's tried recruiting me to be his Holly Madison and wants me to be called his sweetie, but I'm too old for that now and want to be taken serial. I'm like, a Senator. You know? Why should I have to buff the Majority Leader's lobby, as Harry requested me one night? Anywho, I kept a poem he dropped by my desk - or was it slipped down my blouse? - which I then interpreted as a proposition. It reads: